We are happy to invite 2
representatives of your organisation to attend a National
Workshop on the theme "Surya Ki Khoj" which has been
organised on 28th and 29th July 2000, at
Nehru Science Centre, Worli, Mumbai.

The 2-day workshop is
organised by the Campaign Committee of the `Suntrek-Surya Ki Khoj
programme. The purpose of the workshop is to train the State
level organisers of the Surya Ki Khoj mass campaign to study the
Sun, which is being undertaken in conjunction with the solar
activity maximum which is currently underway during 2000-2001.

The workshop will have a
theoretical component, slideshows, films as well as demonstration
of a number of simple experimental techniques for mass
observation and study of sun/sunspots. Low cost telescopy and no
cost methods will be the focus of these methods. (Let us hope
that the monsoon clouds will cooperate on 28th and 29th
July.)

Arrangements :
Modest Residential arrangements have been made at Nehru Science
Centre itself for around 30 persons. Accomodation, food and
hospitality expenses will be borne by the workshop organisers. However, all participants
will have to bear their own travel expenses and make their own
bookings/ reservations.

Please confirm your
participation immediately by speedpost or E-mail to the following
addresses:

Sub: Proposal for mass public
education campaign for studying the SUN.

Dear Sir/Madam,

In 1999 and 1995, two very
successful mass public education campaigns were conducted in our
country around the Total Solar Eclipse phenomenon. Many of us
were active participants in this campaign. However, the next TSE
visible in India is many years away, and TSE is a one day wonder
occuring as a transient phenomenon, which limits its usefulness
for a mass public science education campaign. Some of us working
in the field of science dissemination for public have been
discussing the possibility of an ongoing campaign without such
limitations. The success of the TSE campaign appears to be based
on the following four criteria:

1. An unique and unusual
phenomenon outside of everyday experience.

2.Simple activities which
ordinary people / school students can readily perform.

3.Wide involvement of the
scientific establishments and institutions.

4.Media support and
coverage.

Is there such a phenomenon,
which can be used as a basis for a mass campaign, which is not
transient, but lasts for several months? The occurrence of a
sunspot maxima began in around June this year and lasting for
over a year presents such an opportunity.

Some of us in Mumbai have
been discussing the above and working on low cost methods of
observing sunspots and are happy to state that a number of safe
methods and options have been found which any child can afford
and perform.

Very few people (
scientists included) have actually seen sunspots. The sunspots
phenomenon seems to score well on all the four criteria mentioned
above. Since it will last for over a year, a really effective
campaign around the theme of studying sunspots and the sun during
the solar maximum period 2000-2001 should be possible with the
pooled resources of different science institutions and peoples
science movement organisations.

Thus the SUNTREK- SURYA
KI KHOJ campaign was conceived and approved by a number of
science popularization organisations in different states of the
country. Campaign committees are being established in different
parts of the country.

In fact we feel that a
reaching every school in the country, in all states, and in all
languages, through this campaign, should well be possible, making
this the worlds biggest exercise in science propagation.

We invite your
participation in this campaign, along with the skills, material
and human resources of your organisation .

The Suntrek -Surya Ki
Khoj campaign is a mass campaign of public education and
science popularization around the theme of studying the Sun.

The campaign will be
carried out in all states of the country during 2000-2001. The
campaign has been approved by the All India Peoples Science
Network as well as many other science popularization
organisations in this and other states.

The campaign is structured
around the phenomenon of Sunspot Maximum, which is taking place
currently on the Sun and which will last for a whole year.
Through simple experiments the participants will be able to see
and study sunspots. This will be the window for studying many
other aspects of the Sun.

The programme , if
organised effectively, will reach every primary, secondary and
high school in the country. Crores of students will be interested
to participate, leading to a growth of scientific consciousness
at large.

In Mumbai, a number of
organisations have come together to launch the campaign,
including Nehru Science Centre, Nehru Centre, Navnirmiti,Comet
Media Foundation, and scientists from institutions like TIFR,
Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education, Indian Institute of
Geomagnetism etc.

The target audience will
include all schools and colleges, making this an extremely
broadbased project.

The campaign will involve
the performing of a number of ingenious experiments with low cost
and no cost equipment. There will be lectures, slideshows,
essay-writing competitions, project work ,articles in the mass
media etc.

A national workshop for
training the statelevel organisers of the campaign will be held
on 28th and 29th July at Nehru Science
Centre, Mumbai.